Parenting is tough! Very tough! Anybody who does not think so, obviously is not a parent. Even grandparents who are in some ways removed from the daily parenting role can still relate to what I am saying. Go ahead and ask any parent or grandparent about parenting being one of the most important and toughest jobs in the world, and I am sure you will get an agreement from them.

Parenting is tough because we now have young people under our care who did not ask to come into this world but are now here by our doing. They have been placed in our care by our actions. These children are young and vulnerable, and have not had the time yet to learn the ways of the world. They are looking for a teacher, and that teacher needs to be their parents. Our kids are looking for someone to trust, and that trustful person has to be us.

Our kids are looking for someone to set an example on how live their lives in this confusing world. That example has to come from us, and it has to come from us even when we are tired and frustrated. We have to fight all of these negative and frail human urges and impulses and stand tall as the beacon of light and right. Believe it or not, they will follow us in whatever we do, whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between. Our kids will grow up to be like us, think like us, and then pass our way of life onto their children. We have a direct influence on the future of our youth for the next couple of generations. Parenting is a pretty important job, isn’t it?